Spring crops sown on almost 97% of planned area - Russian AgMin

MOSCOW. June 14 (Interfax) - Sowing of spring crops in Russia has been carried out over more than 52 million hectares, approximately 97% of what was planned, the Russian Agriculture Ministry said on Telegram following an operational headquarters meeting held by Agriculture Minister Dmitry Patrushev.

"The majority of work has been carried out on a national scale, although individual regions are continuing to sow. Primarily in Siberia and the Far East. The cultivated area will reach 81.3 million hectares together with winter crops. It will preliminarily increase by almost 1 million hectares," the ministry said.

"Spring field work was beset by a number of difficulties. We, for our part, did and will do everything necessary to support agricultural production," Patrushev was quoted as saying.